Edible plants

Bush fruit

Raspberries

Various kinds of raspberries can be cultivated from hardiness zones 3 to 9. Raspberries can be planted in the winter as dormant canes, although planting of tender, plug plants or seedling has become much more common and can be found generally in a one gallon size in the greenhouse. Plants are typically planted in fertile, well drained soil; raspberries should be planted in raised beds/ridges, if there is any question about root rot problems.

Raspberries are very vigorous and can be locally invasive. They propagate using basal shoots (also known as suckers), extended underground shoots that develop roots and individual plants. They can sucker new canes some distance from the main plant. For this reason, raspberries spread well, and can take over gardens if left unchecked.

The fruit is harvested when it comes off the torus/receptacle easily and has turned a deep color (red, black, purple, or golden yellow, depending on the species and cultivar). This is when the fruits are ripest and sweetest. Excess fruit can be made into raspberry jam or frozen.

There are numerous raspberry cultivars but there are two main types of raspberry; the summer-bearing type produces an abundance of fruit on second-year canes (floricanes) within a relatively short period in midsummer, and double or "everbearing" plants, which also bear some fruit on first-year canes (primocanes) in the late summer and fall, as well as the summer crop on second-year canes.

Here are some of the more popular varieties that do well in the Calgary area boyne being the most hardy.

Boyne Red

Red

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Full sun

Hardy, heavy producer of sweet red berries

Black Jewel

Dark purple

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Full sun

Hardy, heavy producer of purple, juicy fruit

Heritage Red

Red

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Full sun

Everbearing producer in September

Tayberry

Purple

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Full sun

Cross between blackberry and raspberry

Yellow-Fall Gold

Gold-yellow

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Full sun

Everbearing variety with unique gold fruit

Haskaps/Honeyberries

Some fast facts on the Haskaps/Honeyberries:

Harvest fruit when flesh is lavender to red throughout

Earliest fruit baring shrub

You will need one pollinator variety for every 6 – 8 ‘main varieties’ you have

Tundra and Borealis will not pollinate each other because they are too closely related (They are not “Companions”)

Haskap require six hours of direct sun each day

They are very high in Vitamin C and A; Fiber and Potassium; they have triple the antioxidant level of a strawberry, Dr. Oz calls this the Super Fruit

Exposed flowers are hardy down to –7 degrees Celsius

The University of Saskatchewan developed many of the honeyberries varieties listed.

Tundra

Mature size 4-5 feet tall

Very Sweet Berry

Large, smooth fruit

Pollinated by: Polar Jewel, Berryblue, or Honeybee

Borealis

Best shrub for home owner; maintains a clean and attractive appearance.

Mature size of 4 feet tall

Sweetest Berry

Uneven, boxy shaped fruit

Pollinated by Polar Jewel, Berryblue, or Honeybee

Honey Bee

Companion/pollinator to Tundra, Borealis and Indigo series

Sweeter than earlier introductions of Haskaps

Call a companion to Tundra and Borealis, because the fruit is equally as sweet

Berry Blue

Excellent pollinator for Tundra, Borealis and Indigo series

Vigorous plant growth

High producing plant, with smaller fruit

Blueberries

Blueberries are perennial flowering plants with indigo-colored berries from the section Cyanococcus within the genus Vaccinium (a genus that also includes cranberries and bilberries). Species in the section Cyanococcus are the most common fruits sold as "blueberries" and are native to North America. Blueberries are usually erect. Prostrate shrubs can vary in size from 10 centimeters (3.9 in) to 4 meters (13 ft) in height. The smaller species are known as "low-bush blueberries", while the larger species are known as "high-bush blueberries".

The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen, the flowers are bell-shaped, white, pale pink or red, sometimes tinged greenish. The fruit is a berry 5–16 millimeters (0.20–0.63 in) in diameter with a flared crown at the end; they are pale greenish at first, then reddish-purple, and finally dark purple when ripe.

Blueberries at harvest should be plump and fresh looking. Berries of low quality are soft and watery or have a shriveled appearance. Color, which may be blue, black, bluish-black or purple is the key to ripeness. Look for berries that have a uniform color. Blueberries usually have a grayish waxy deposit on the skin, which is called bloom. The amount of bloom present depends on the variety of the berry.

The bloom on the berry is a protective coating; therefore, blueberries should not be washed until just before they are going to be used. Blueberries will spoil quickly if left at room temperature. They can, however, be stored for several days in the refrigerator. Canning or freezing blueberries will extend shelf life and provide your family with blueberries throughout the year. They have a sweet taste when mature, with variable acidity. Blueberry bushes typically bear fruit in the middle of the growing season: fruiting times are affected by local conditions such as altitude and latitude, so the height of the crop can vary from May to August depending upon these conditions.

There are many varieties of blueberries, but in the Calgary area try the Blueberries Northland Series they are proven to be hardy here. These berry bushes were developed so branches will not break under heavy snow load. Good quality with a wild berry flavour. These high bush blueberries will yield an abundance of huge tasty berries, ideal for fresh eating. These bushes will grow to about 3-4 feet tall and have very attractive red foliage in the fall. Begins producing fruit in third year.

Northblue

Dark blue

3/3 ft. 91/91 cm.

Sun to part shade

Dark blue, sweet flavored fruit

Northcountry

Sky blue

3/3 ft. 91/91 cm.

Sun to part shade

Mild, sweet, sky blue fruit

Northland

Dark blue

4/4 ft. 122/12 cm.

Sun to part shade

Wild berry tasting, dark blue fruit

Northsky

Sky blue

2/2 ft. 61/61cm.

Sun to part shade

Hardiest blueberry with sweet, sky blue fruit

Currants

Gooseberries and some currants are native to Canada. They are hardy here in Alberta and are grown both for their fruits and also for their ornamental value. Bush fruits are great for small yards, and provide a great fruit substitute. These berries are high in vitamin C and are used fresh and preserved.

Plant Gooseberries and currants in well-drained cool moist soil. Amend with a good compost or peat. Mulching can conserve moisture and maintain a cool soil temperature.

Upon planting fertilize with a high middle number fertilizer around the base of each plant. This will help the new plants develop strong root systems. once established you can fertilize with higher first two number fertilizer, this will help the plants out of the ground growth.

Red, white and albol currants bear most of their fruit on 2- and 3-year-old wood spurs. Spurs or shortened branches with a cluster of buds and leaves growing laterally on main branches. Gooseberries fruit along the sides of 1-year shoots and also on the spurs of 2- and 3-year-old wood. After the first year, remove weaker shoots. Leave no more than six of the strongest first-year shoots. In the third spring, leave six shoots, with three 2-year shoots and three 1-year shoots. In the fourth year, leave about nine shoots; three 1-year, three 2-year and three 3-year shoots. The aim of pruning this way is to have vigorous young shoots always coming on to take the place of wood more than three years old. After this time, the wood generally becomes less productive. In subsequent years, remove the wood that is older than three years.

Black currants bear most of their fruit on last year's wood. Do this by pruning after planting in spring for form and tolimit the number of main branches to six or eight. Prune for eight canes each season. The tips of black currant branches should not be cut back as this pruning will reduce fruit production.

Currants and gooseberries are self fertile or insect pollinated. There is no need for planting different varieties for cross pollination.

In the fourth season Gooseberries will bear the most fruit, expect smaller harvests until then. Harvest berries for jelly making when the fruit is slightly green, but when preserving, pick ripe fruit. The berries often ripen arbitrarily plan for two or three pickings will be necessary. Remember to do this as they ripen as they fall quickly afterwards. harvest red and white currants as soon as they are clear in color. Pick the whole cluster to avoid injuring the delicate fruit. Pick black currants selectively as they ripen, before they shrivel and fall.

Pembina pride: Vigorous, upright bush, berries large, green fruit at maturity. The fruit is good for processing and matures early.

Invicta: mid-season, large green fruit

Albol Currant

The albol currant is grown as an ornamental, so its value as a fruiting shrub is sometimes overlooked. Albol is also commonly known as the Missouri, Colorado, California, Golden Flowering Clove or Cross Currant. They reach a height of 1 to 2.5 m. It's fruit is good for canning, pies, jam and wine. Crandall and Black Giant are common varieties that do well in Calgary. Albol currants also tolerate hot, dry weather and are well-adapted to Calgary conditions.

Jostaberry

The jostaberry is a cross between a black currant and a gooseberry. This thornless bush produces large clusters of berries that are dark black in color. High in vitamin C they are well-suited for making jam, jelly, juice and wine. pretty much grow and care for them as if they were black currants.

Alpine

Green

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Sun to part shade

Ornamental shrub for mass planting.

Black

Black

3/3 ft. 91/91 cm.

Sun to part shade

Abundant black fruit for preserves.

Golden

Gold

5/5 ft. 152/152 cm.

Sun to part shade

Ornamental golden fragrant flowers.

Josta

Dark red

6/3 ft. 183/94.cm

Sun to part shade

Cross between Black Currant and Gooseberry.

Goji

Goji berry plants are easy to grow and maintain. Although the Goji berry plant can grow in just about any soil type from sandy to clay it will do best, as you would imagine, in better quality soil so heaping in some good compost at the time of planting will help it get establish and thrive with and therefore have better flowering and fruit production. Do note however that the Goji will not do well in wet soil or boggy areas of your yard so keep them in a place where water drains well away from them. Goji plants have an aggressive root system and are quite drought tolerant after they are established.

For maximum production look for a sunny location. Although it can stand some shade know that it does best in a full sun scenario.

Perfect for the prairies goji berry plants can survive winter temperatures as low as -40C and summer temperatures as high as 38C and are suited for zones 2-7.

The goji berry is a large shrub reaching heights of 2-3 meters with vines that can reach a meter plus. Pruning of the main stem and branches will keep the plant shorter, thicker and help with increased flowering and fruit production. The goji plant grows numerous small trumpet shaped flowers in early summer. In later summer these flowers develop into bright red berries. The plant continues to flower and fruit until the first heavy frost. The goji plant begins flowering in the second year with maximum fruit production in the 4th or 5th year.

Seabuckthorn

Sea buckthorn is a large deciduous shrub growing to a mature height of 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft), a spread of 3.5 m (15 ft), and an annual growth of 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in.). It flowers in inconspicuous, yellow, appearing before leaves.

The silvery leaves provide great contrast in the garden throughout the summer with particularly attractive berries which are very showy orange-yellow berries persisting through winter. It's irregular in shape with spiny branches. Male and female flowers occur on different plants. The six - year - old and older wood should be removed to promote vigorous growth of the shrub. Sea buckthorn prefers sandy soil, is intolerant to shade, but can survive drought conditions and also extreme winter conditions. The seabuckthorn plant can also tolerate alkaline soils so it's great for the Calgary Area. It can be a heavy suckering plant, so some control might be needed over time. Removal of older stems will keep the plants vigorous.

It is more suitable along roadsides or out of the way plantings because of its formidable thorns. Sea Buckthorn can be pruned to form a short tree or left to grow naturally to form a round bush. In a shelterbelt planting it will form and impenitratable barrier. The Sea Buckthorn has suckering habits and a male and female plant are needed to produce fruit. It prefers full sun and dry alkali soils. The fruit contains the highest known concentration of Vitamin C and are widely known to have medicinal properties.

Strawberries

June-bearing typically produce the largest strawberries over a few weeks. These are further divided into Early Season, Midseason, and Late Season so it’s possible to have strawberries for more than a month.

Honeoye

Ever-bearing strawberries usually produce two harvests a year; one in spring and one in late summer. In general, ever-bearing strawberries put out fewer runners than the June-bearing varieties so they’re a good choice if space is limited. Day-neutral strawberries are now classified in this category.

Albion

Berri Basket Pink

Eversweet

Fort Laramie

Fern

Merlan

Mignonette—heirloom variety

Ozark Beauty

Quinalt

Seascape

Tribute

Tristar

Tips for success: Water your plants well and cover your plants in the winter with mulch, leaves, or straw will help them survive our temperatures.

Highbush Cranberry

Native to Alberta the highbush cranberry is generally planted as an ornamental plant rather than a berry producer. However, it produces fruit which makes good jelly, but the fruit is exceedingly seedy for jams. Highbush cranberry can grow up to 3m tall. It grows in shady, moist, wooded areas, in the wild. The highbush cranberry does well in exposed locations too which makes it great for landscaping here in Alberta. Stock is available at many Alberta nurseries. Plant approximately 3m apart, water in well, and cut back 1/3 of the height to promote dense bushy plants.

Grape

Many people believe that grapes cannot be grown in Alberta, but there are a few varieties like the Kay Grey pictured here. This vine fruit is not the easiest plant to get growing, but if you take the time and find the right location these plants can actually thrive here in Calgary. Many grapes prefer sunny locations and sandy soil.

To be successful find a location of maximum exposure to the south, try planting on the south side of a building wall or on the south slope of a hill. It just so happens that the south sloping hill generally has warmer night time temperatures and because of the slope therefore well drained so, they are less in the likely to freeze spring and fall which is the issue with growing grapes in Calgary. Plant in a good soil with texture and sand for drainage, air flow . Light soils promote earlier ripening and a sweeter fruit, but sandy soil will dry quickly so adding a nice compost to retain some water during hot periods is necessary and should be introduced at the time of planting. However, because sandy soil dries out fast, amending the soil with peat moss or a good quality compost. Plant vines where they can be trained in an east-west orientation perpendicular to the sun path. After planting, cut back the vines to two or three strong buds. This helps prevent plant desiccation and forces growth into the lower shoots.

Grapes are not great competitors for nutrients and water, so give them their own space it would be a good idea to make a bed that can be mulched to keep weeds to a minimum and aid in soil temperatures fluctuations. When weeding take care not to disturb the root system.

After planting, prune the plants back to two or three buds. In the second spring, cut back the vines produced over the previous growing season to four or five strong buds. Prune grapes in late winter or early spring, however, late spring pruning may result in some `bleeding' but it does little harm to the plant. In following years, prune back all previous years vines, leaving no more than 30 buds on each plant. Remove suckers they produce little is any fruit.

Grapes are self-fertile, so one plant will produce fruit. Thinning the fruit increases berry size and hastens maturity. The best time to thin fruit is at blossom time when whole clusters of flowers can be removed. Generally a plant with one cluster per shoot may ripen two weeks before an over-cropped plant. also prune any shoots that cause shade to the fruit cluster this will help promote ripening and maturity quicker than left as is.

Grapes are especially sensitive to drought. Keep them well watered. Water well until late August, then allow them to harden off for winter. Once grapes are picked, the ripening process stops. If frost is expected, the cover with a sheet or frost cloth in a manner where the sheet is not touching the plant itself. Harvest grapes for table use and for wine when both the color and flavor peak. Grapes used for jelly should be picked before they are fully ripe, when they will contain higher amounts of pectin.

In late October before freeze-up water the plants well. Carefully, detach your vines and lay the vines down and cover with 15 cm of soil, then a layer of straw or leaves. In late spring before the buds break slowly remove the mulch and soil over a period of a week to 10 days. watch the weather and don't be too hasty complete removal of your mulch and soil in a short period of time may in fact kill the grape vine. Once the vines have been uncovered tie them and prune. Cover the plants with a sheet or frost blanket if there is a risk of frost. Keep an eye out until the risk of frost has past.

Choke Cherry

Chokecherries are native plant that has become popular ornamental staple. aside from being an ornamental staple this tree is often used as a shelterbelt. It suckers easily forming a dense hedge row. When planting a shelterbelt, plant the trees 2 m apart . Choke cherries also provide shelter and food for birds and small animals. Schubert choke cherry is often used as a specimen tree because of its deep wine-colored leaves. Around the home, plant chokecherries like any other ornamental tree. The fruit makes excellent jams and syrup.

Nanking Cherry

Nanking cherries are bright red and sweet. These berries can be used in jelly and wine making but because its small and not a firm cherry its not considered good for canning. Nanking cherries must be cross pollinated in order to bear fruit, So more than one plant is required. Other pitted fruits such as the plum varieties Brookgold, Bounty or Dandy may cross pollinate. Mature plants reach heights of up to 2 m. Plant in rows 3 m apart with 2 m between rows if more than one row is necessary. Prune annually to prevent shrubs from becoming too dense. Don't remove more than 1/3 of the total branches at one time.

Mongolian Cherry

The Mongolian cherry (Prunus fruitcosa) is native to Eastern Asia and grows well in Alberta gardens. The medium to dark red fruit is excellent for jelly, wine, syrup and preserves. Due to its spreading form and shiny leaves, the plant has an ornamental value. Cultural requirements for the Mongolian cherry are similar to that of the Nanking cherry, with one exception, Mongolians need a larger row spacing because of their suckering habit. Plant them at least 2.5 m apart.

Western Sandcherry

The Western Sandcherry to produce fruit will need to planted with a partner this will facilitate cross pollination. The Western Sandcherry will also pollinate a wide range of (Prunus)plants including plums. Sandcherries can be used as pollinators for late blooming plums such as Brookred and Pembina, and in turn the plums will pollinate the Sandcherry. Sandcherries are hardy here in Calgary and very good fruit producer. Selections are pleasant to eat out of hand, as well as being good for jam and canning. Named selections of Sandcherries include Mando, Manmoor and Brooks.

Romance series Cherry

If you are looking for a sweeter cherry that does well on the prairies and is a good producer of fruit
In 2004, the Romance series of dwarf sour cherries was released. These include 'Juliet', 'Romeo', 'Cupid', 'Valentine', and 'Crimson Passion'.

'JULIET' - (7-21-31.0)

Dark Red

Fresh eating type: excellent quality

Also good for processing

One of the best for fresh eating flavor

Most productive cultivar in 2009

Moderate vigour

Few suckers

5.0g fruit

High sugar content (up to 20 brix)

Pits are large enough for old fashioned crank pitters

Read more

'CRIMSON PASSION' - (7-21-16.3)

Dark Red

Fresh eating type: excellent quality

Also good for processing

Low vigour, smaller yields

No suckers

6.0g fruit

Highest sugar content (up to 22brix)

Pits are large enough for old fashioned crank pitters

Some dieback in 2009

'VALENTINE' - (7-19-27.6)

Medium Red Fruit

Tart pie cherry: Processing type

Some suckering

4.5g fruit

This cherry may be best for making pies with no dyes needed.

'ROMEO' - (7-7-5.8)

Dark red/black

Very similar to Carmine Jewel, but much later

Very flavourful. Good for fresh eating and processing

One of the best for juice.

One of the most productive in 2003

Some dieback in 2009

4.0g fruit.

'CUPID' - (7-32-19.1)

Black to dark red

Most years it is the largest of all sour cherries

6.5g fruit

Good balanced flavour for fresh eating

Consistent but moderate producer

Blooms 1 week later than other varieties earning it the nickname 'Big & Late'

Few suckers

Pits are large enough for old fashioned crank pitters

Fruit too large for standard commercial sour cherry pitters

Very different genetically from all other U of Sk sour cherry cultivars

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